"Staycation"

The phrase "staycation" has been growing in popularity. With the economy the way it is, many are opting to stay closer to home to "get away". "The local tourism industry has cleverly rallied to meet this need for close-to-home vacations in everything from discounted spa treatments and hotel stays to non-weekend specials on food and drink." [source] Rather than spending money on expensive plane tickets or filling the gas tank, a spa getaway can relieve your stress without stressing your wallet. Experience no guilt or remorse over treating yourself. Stay close to home in New Jersey at @Ease Spa and experience a spa day that will take you away to another place.

Defy Your Age

Time makes for beautiful memories but not so beautiful age spots. Look forward to the future with photo rejuvenation. Photo rejuvenation is a revolutionary treatment and uses light therapy to produce healthier and younger looking skin. It's different that tanning and uses the good parts of light to correct skin texture and collagen structure. By doing so, it transforms skin into its optimal state of firm beautiful skin. Photo rejuvenation utilizes Intense Pulsed Light technology which is a non-invasive kind of cosmetic treatment and is a little bit more intense that microdermabrasion and is more effective in boosting collagen firmness. It is also very very effective in treating and alleviating signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.

Another Bizarre Spa Treatments

When a bird dropping unfortunately lands on your shoulder it's supposedly good luck. But, would you pay for it to be spread on your face? I came across an article on the "Nightingale Cleansing Mask which includes a powder composed of "sanitized droppings" from the bird. The treatment claims to break down dead skin cells more gently than acid peels. But, I can't help wondering if the droppings are actually more effective or if it's a novelty to get people in the spa. I guess it is made of natural ingredients but many spas offer a variety of natural options like berries and other herbs and remedies. I think I'm going to stick to my usual exfoliator.

Bat Them Lashes

Long lashes have always been a mark of beauty. With today's technology, they are a possibility for everyone!

Get those doe eyes you’ve always dreamed of with Eyelash Extensions. Bat them, flaunt them. Eyelash extensions can more than double the length and abundance of your lashes while appearing completely natural. It is performed by an @Ease expert trained in the proper weaving procedures to ensure the complete comfort and safety of your delicate eyes.

Don’t be embarrassed by short, invisible lashes or cake on layers of mascara anymore. An eyelash extension just once a month will make mascara and fake, stick-on lashes obsolete. Open your eyes each morning to the long, striking lashes you’ve been dreaming of with @Ease Spa’s safe and easy eyelash extensions.

Spa for Babies?

Ok, I thought the puppy pampering was a little strange but this takes the cake; A spa for babies and toddlers. The Dimples Kids Spa in Brooklyn offers a wide variety of treatments for kids from chocolate facials to manicures & pedicures to face gems. Yep, face gems. The treatments are actually reasonably priced (considering the size of the spa goer). I think it's a cute idea but may take the idea of spoiled to a whole new level. Isn't a baby's skin already...smooth as a baby's? Take a look at the website and decide for yourself.

Puppy Pampering...

"From hot oil treatments to aroma therapy, the economic slowdown isn't deterring pet owners from plopping their 'babies' into the lap of luxury." How do you know if your pup is stressed?:

" Urmila says most owners pamper their pooches when they feel the dog is feeling low or showing signs of stress. "They start licking their paws, start yawning, panting, have different bowel movements, feel a loss of appetite and sometimes the colour of their tongue may also change," says Gauri, who has worked closely with a vet for years." [source]

I don't know. Dogs are animals and I'm not sure if they can even fully enjoy spa treatments. But I do really like their support of helping abandoned dogs and their refusal to pierce a dog's ears or anything else that may cause the canine discomfort. Also, "It helps abandoned dogs find a new home, and even has a 'matrimonial' board for canines with more carnal needs. The board displays photographs of a buff Alsatian with the words, "Need mate. He's loyal and gentle’’. And his fur is, of course, blow-dried." I guess you can't argue with that.

Celebrity Spa Gossip

Speaking of glowing like the stars, there is a big story in the celebrity magazines about Katie Holmes' $45,000 makeover. In order to perhaps resemble the Katie Holmes of Dawson's Creek, she spent over $10,000 in spa treatments alone in order to regain her youthful glow. And I must say, she does look wonderful. "The actress is said to have spent a whopping $45,000 on hair, makeup dental veneers and spa treatments in a bid to regain her youthful glow, which has been lacking in recent months", says EntertainmentWise. "A fan at the premiere told In Touch, "She didn't have a wrinkle on her face, her hair was perfect, and she had the body of a supermodel."[source]

Spring Cleaning and Looking Good for Big Events

Give your skin a little spring cleaning. Wedding invitations are piling up, other important events are approaching as the weather gets warmer. One month before a big event, get your micro-dermabrasion or glycolic peels. They will remove the skin's outer layers and leave you glowing, but the month will allow your skin time to recover.

One week before: Get a gentler facial to cleanse and exfoliate your skin and neck. The week will allow any extractions and outbreaks time to heal.

Two days before: If you're wearing a revealing gown, get some sort of body treatment like a sugar rub or warm algae wrap. Then, follow this up with a body massage or warm stone massage. Be sure to drink lots of water as well to cleanse and hydrate your body.

One day before: Get your manicures and pedicures to ensure they don't chip for your big day.

Now, you'll glow like the stars. Spas will not only help make your skin and body look better but you'll feel better from the inside-out with stress-relieving treatments.

Find us on Twitter

@ease Spa is on Twitter. Find out about special rates, news and events fast and easy by following us on Twitter. We would love to follow you too! Become a fan on Facebook as well for even more promotions. We want our customer service to reach as far as possible, responding to our clients as quickly as possible. By offering these social connections, you can ask any questions you may have and receive an answer promptly. We look forward to it!

Jin Shin Jystsu

I had a commenter ask what the Jin Shin Jyutsu was in response to a recent post. Here's the answer! Hope this helps!

Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient healing practice that aims at harmonizing body, mind and spirit with gentle touch. It has been used for centuries to unblock the 26 energy locks that exist throughout the body’s energy pathways. Using his/her fingertips, the Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner provides light pressure to the safety energy locks to reduce tension and restore the energy flow balance.

It is a comprehensive holistic philosophy that is helpful in alleviating conditions such as aching muscles and joints, appetite related problems, respiratory difficulties, emotional stress, and reproductive complications. Keeping our energy locks open enables balance in the body's energy systems and promotes health and well being.

Where Spa Treatments Fit Into Your Budget

I found a great blog posting about what spa treatments, why spa treatments, and when spa treatments fit into a recession effected budget. Anitra Brown states that "They're not -- or shouldn't be -- just a form of pampering or entertainment. Massage has real health benefits- not the least of them stress reduction. Facials and body treatments support the health of your skin -- your body's largest organ! When you think about massages and facials as one of the ways you support your health, then they deserve to keep a place in your budget. If you've lost your job, that's one thing. But don't panic because your retirement account has gone down, or your house value has gone down and cut out the very things that help keep you feeling good and healthy from day to day!" Finding a local spa that is less expensive will give you the treatment you need without the stress of feeling you've overindulged or over payed. Feel pampered without the price. That's that answer to still experiencing the benefits of spas during the recession.

An Exotic Getaway Close to Home!

The local spa can replace your exotic spa getaway. I found a great article on the important role of the local spa during the recession. " Can we all agree that this has been one of the most brutal winters in recent memory? When it wasn't snowing, the skies were gray and dank. When it wasn't freezing cold, it was only really cold. Add in the grim economic climate, and the only things more diminished than our spirits are our 401(k) funds...While we wish we could all be whisked away for a mini break to Florida, the reality of the paragraph above makes that unlikely. Instead, we find balms to our souls -- and winter-battered skin -- much closer to home, in luxurious treatments at local spas." [source] @ease Spa is proud to be here for you during this time of immense stress. We can do this together! Just because you're staying close to home doesn't mean you have to give up a luxurious getaway. @ease is waiting to give you an experience of total relaxation with some of our exotic treatments right here in New Jersey!

Tiny Dancers

I just love this story. It highlights the stressful lives that children often lead and the necessity to allow them to relax. "It's a reality that adults often forget: kids get stressed-out too. Just like we need the occasional escape from stresses at work, mortgage payments and family dramas, so too do kids crave the occasional time out from homework and extracurricular activities." Instructor of a camp for little ballerinas gives the girls spa days to allow them to de-stress and recharge. "Tuesday and Thursday during spring break (March 17 and 19), encourages kids to put their worries at bay, chill out in a spa robe, listen to relaxing music, and visualize themselves on beaches far away. They also get to soak their feet and do their nails, and whip up creative hair-dos. 'The children totally love it,' says Stewart." Check out the full story, it's such a great idea!

Stressful Times...

Many people today are over-worked and over-stressed. Here are some necessary elements to today's spa:

Catering to the Over-Worked: Spas need to focus their treatments on the stressed. Stone massages and relaxing treatments that don't take too long are perfect for any busy bee. It's important to take some time to relax but we understand that you have a busy schedule to return to.

Catering to Couples: Being with the one you love is very important right now. Both men and women can enjoy trips to the spa. With everyone so busy, going to the spa is the perfect get-away for couples to spend time together and relax. Treatments for couples are an important element to the spa experience these days.

Going Green: You can go green for less now and spas should see the importance in using natural ingredients. It's better for the environment and better for the spa goer. Most people today know the importance of a greener tomorrow and so does @Ease.

Spa & Self Esteem

I like to bring this topic up every once in a while because I think it has become one of my favorite elements of the spa world:

Bringing a loved one to the spa is always a great bonding experience. In this day and age, young girls are faced with many challenges dealing with their image coming from the media. Spas help promote self-esteem in young girls and women. By learning to enhance your own natural beauty you can avoid feeling pressured by impossible standards of beauty. Going to the spa will give you confidence in the beauty of your own skin and body. You can learn more about products that work well for you as well as relieve tension. Have a non-extreme makeover event where you and your friends can receive advice on hair styling, skincare, makeup and stress management to increase your self-confidence. Even younger girls should take a trip to the spa for a non-extreme makeover. It can help build beautifully healthy girls.

Keyword: Stress

I've read an interesting article that highlights a very interesting aspect of the economic downturn and the spa industry's relationship to it. It states that the use of the word "stress" in the search bar of Spafinder.com spiked in November. "Interest hasn't waned since, said Susie Ellis, president of SpaFinder Inc., the New York travel and marketing company that runs the Web site. Not only is "stress" still showing up often in the site's searches, but weekly traffic to its "stress management" category has doubled since the summer months.

When the economy was good, taking a spa vacation was largely about pampering yourself. It didn't matter that the afterglow of that $165 carrot-and-sesame body buff lasted only until your next shower. Now, with the sinking economy on most people's minds, a trip to the spa has become something else — an investment of sorts, in well-being." Therefore, many spas are now catering to the growing desire for stress relief and stressing treatments specifically designed to alleviate stress.

Have You Heard About the Acai Berry

The Acai Berry is a miracle berry found in the Amazon that does so many amazing things. You can survive on the berry alone as it contains every single nutrient necessary for a human being's diet. It also, when applied topically on the skin, prevents aging and renews skin. Those in the Amazon who eat these berries every day, look younger than they actually are and even have less wrinkles! There is also no existence of non-genetic disease. No cancer, no colds. This berry has just been discovered for us! They call it the new fountain of youth. Whether you ingest it or apply it topically, it will leave you feeling and looking better. You get energy without caffeine or guarana. Why the Acai berry is so good to use as a facial:
Antioxidants Combat the Signs of Aging, Sun Damage and Acne. As one of the highest antioxidant-content fruits in the world, the Acai Berry, fights off cellular mutation, reducing free radicals' abilities to cause wrinkles and more. Complex antioxidants called anthyocyanins prevent oxidants from harming connective tissues while repairing damaged proteins. They also contain amino and fatty acids which are vital to cell contraction and regeneration.

Spring Cleaning Doesn't Have to Be Dirty Work

Spring cleaning! Get your mind and body ready for the changing of the season. @ease spa has the services to treat your face, body, muscles, scalp, and spirit. The best way to get the most for your money is with spa packages. Package deals give you a large variety of treatment all in one day. Feel totally refurbished, relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle the week ahead. The ultimate @ease Day package gives you half a dozen treatments at the price of about three. You receive an entire day of pampering including a light lunch plus a wide scope of treatments for all of your mind and body. You receive:

Dead Sea Salt Glow
Algae Wrap
Massage
Facial & Eye Treatment
Reflexology
Shirodhara

Spring cleaning doesn't have to be all dirty work. Treat yourself with a day at the spa...for less!

It's still cold outside...but Spring is on its way!

It may still feel like the dead of winter outside, but spring is quickly approaching. The air is going to begin to warm, the flowers are going to come up, the sun will shine. And... not soon after...it will be bathing suit season! Get ready for your short sleeves, short shorts, and tini bikinis. Get your skin ready to see the daylight again with tanning and waxing. When you can’t get outdoors or don’t have time, the simple and convenient solution is indoor tanning. At @Ease Spa, you can keep your warm glow all-year-round so you can still show a little skin. Also, don't feel bashful about your winter stubble. Imagine smoother legs and a smoother morning routine with @ease waxing. Waxing is easy to upkeep and will keep your legs smooth and ever-so touchable.

What is photo rejuvenation?

Time makes for beautiful memories but not so beautiful age spots. Look forward to the future with photo rejuvenation. Photo rejuvenation is a revolutionary treatment and uses light therapy to produce healthier and younger looking skin. It's different that tanning and uses the good parts of light to correct skin texture and collagen structure. By doing so, it transforms skin into its optimal state of firm beautiful skin. Photo rejuvenation utilizes Intense Pulsed Light technology which is a non-invasive kind of cosmetic treatment and is a little bit more intense that microdermabrasion and is more effective in boosting collagen firmness. It is also very very effective in treating and alleviating signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.

Lift Your Spirits at the Spa

In case you missed this article, The Economic Times says that the best way to beat the recession blues is by taking a trip to the spa. They even include a list of the best treatments and best ingredients to elevate your spirits. Their "Nine Best Spa Treatments" include chocolate and stones! Take a look!:

"If chocolate is your sinful indulgence try chocolate spa which can make your fantasies come true! Known for its beneficial qualities, the essential nutrients and vitamins of chocolate makes it good for the skin too.

While stone may not instantly come to mind as a relaxing therapy, the fact is that stone therapy actually is quite a rejuvenating experience. This therapy uses stones that are heated to offer a relaxing massage. The combination of aromatic essential oils are known to de-stress and balance energy levels. "

@ease Spa offers treatments that include both chocolate and stone massage. Chase away the recession blues at @ease spa at a price you can afford!